׉?4ׁB!בCטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://mjhRvjdWslHEW7RREwIv__35v8OR7sP8gIomoQvLIlof`'p׉ 7cassandra://qW3r9POdlXaIEi80vQKm7Z1tyNyyCFTRXTYAZhIKYwQͭ`׉ 7cassandra://WpLH-pmKuqLNeZPWyZZHisQgMeDXBB1ZJzGk6tjHI6o9`g{נg{ сb9ׁHhttp://angelosoil.comׁ ׁ Јנg{1 9ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׈Eg{׉ESAUGUS D Vol. 27, No.14 Your Local News & Sports Online! Scan & Subscribe Here! OCAT CAT -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday VIETNAM WAR VETS WELCOMED A AN OVERDUE HONOR: Joseph Dion (right), 82, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, received a special lapel pin from DAR Parson Roby Chapter Registrar Charlotte Line during last Saturday’s 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration at the Arthur F. DeFranzo VFW Post #2346. Please see inside for the story and more photos. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Tara Vocino) TE 781-233-4446 Friday, April 4, 2025 Troubled Waters A Bridge Over An attorney representing a lynn business near the site of the state’s bridge replacement project threatens to seek a judge’s order to stop the project over a marina building he alleges was damaged by the bridge work By Mark E. Vogler Saugus attorney seeks to have the Lynn-Saugus Belden Bly Bridge project halted until an unsafe marina building that his client owns on the Saugus River has BRIDGE | SEE PAGE 2 A PICASSO NIGHT IN SAUGUS Carolina DeBrota shows students how to paint Picasso’s cubist style during a fundraiser for the Theatre Company of Saugus on Tuesday night. Please see inside for more photos and the story. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) Mid-grade Regular $3.47 2.73 35 37 Over 47 Years of Excellence! 1947 - 2025 Full Service ULS $2.95 Order online at angelosoil.com ׉ 7cassandra://WpLH-pmKuqLNeZPWyZZHisQgMeDXBB1ZJzGk6tjHI6o9`g{g{ rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://b6RdryuSN_iV9jmIQRho0AkTeMQFBntG-CN6xBdXxJM`'p׉ 7cassandra://c8fJRdsS6CYwwC_J798r9vHHGU82KtxjL4_L05ae_Bg͸`׉ 7cassandra://EKiFp3qNvAvLZ2isR2ZfuQjpnX3twUpp5dH1bHEaswc6J`g{טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://mrR4kdr3uCpxA67N0MZL2rRs05Z79TJkjtFGInqhqGEz`'p׉ 7cassandra://6VljL7o0q4-PgO4gPidmy4AXPfHIPac5pcmQbKWvzKIͽK`׉ 7cassandra://BJZWXOvvIdI-wiOQ9qnDZjW0FYM3FWmYkitJJ4A5yw06`g{Ñנg{ǁ(9ׁHhttp://www.roller-world.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 4, 2025 BRIDGE | FROM PAGE 1 been stabilized by MassDOT. Peter E. Flynn, who represents the Pike family – owners of the building at 1147 Western Ave. in Lynn – blames the ongoing construction work by MassDOT’s contractor, SPS New England, Inc., with the building’s deterioration. The City of Lynn recently declared the building “uninhabitable.” Flynn has served lawyers at MassDOT, SPS New England and the Lynn City Solicitor with a motion he planned to file this week in Essex County Superior Court for a preliminary injunction “to pause construction pending stabilization of the plaintiff’s building” while noting “it could be about to fall into the Saugus River.” Flynn’s motion claimed the These are some of the photos used as an exhibit to Saugus Attorney Peter E. Flynn’s motion seeking an injunction to halt work on the Route 107 Beldon Bly drawbridge. The first photo shows SPS New England, Inc.’s heavy equipment at 1147 Western Ave. in Lynn about 18 months ago. The second photo was taken two years ago. Flynn’s motion alleges that the work has led to the deterioration of the building, which is now at risk of collapsing and falling into the Saugus River near the Saugus/Lynn line. (Courtesy photos to The Saugus Advocate) reason for the building being declared “uninhabitable” Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net by the city is “due to structural problems caused by the construction project for which the eminent domain takings were made on the property in 2018 and 2023.” “Such a collapse into the river impacts all parties, as the plaintiffs lose their building, an environmental disaster is caused to the public, and the Commonwealth’s bridge project is put on an indefinite hold,” the motion claimed. The Pike Family requests that a Superior Court judge “issue an Order enjoining the defendant from performing any further construction in the vicinity of the property until SPS, at the Commonwealth’s cost, repairs the plaintiffs’ building to the extent that the City of Lynn Building Inspector deems it safe for habitation,” according to the 12-page document obtained by The Saugus Advocate. “Alternatively, should this Honorable Court not be inclined to stop the project altogether, the relief requested would be ordering SPS, at the Commonwealth’s expense and in conjunction with its ongoing project, repair the plaintiffs’ building to the extent that the City of Lynn Building Inspector deems it safe for habitation,” it said. Lynn, Saugus, Revere and surrounding communities are anxiously awaiting the construction of the replacement bridge. A judge’s order for an indefinite holdup of the project could prove costly and inconvenient and prolong traffic congestion. The Saugus Advocate sought comment from lawyers representing MassDOT, SPS New England and the City of Lynn. SPS New England, Inc. issued the following company response to the Flynn motion, maintaining that it had not done anything wrong: “SPS New England, Inc. has performed all work on the Route 107 / Beldon-Bly Drawbridge in a professional and safe manner and has adhered to all contract requirements including performing a survey of the existing condition of the 1147 Western Ave structure and foundations prior to construction, and extensive vibration and crack monitoring during construction activities. The structure was built in 1959 and per our structural expert – GZA – the deterioration of the structure is due to decades of tidal activity and not to the last two to three years of construction activity. The City of Lynn’s 2021 Hazard Mitigation Update Plan confirms that the Lynn coastline has been subject to significant coastal flooding since the erection of the 1147 Western Ave structure in 1959. As a result of the massive flooding events from BRIDGE | SEE PAGE 5 ׉ 7cassandra://EKiFp3qNvAvLZ2isR2ZfuQjpnX3twUpp5dH1bHEaswc6J`g{׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 4, 2025 Page 3 Countdown Till Saugus Town Meeting Editor’s Note: The 2025 Annual Town Meeting convenes on Monday, May 5. As a special service to our readers and the registered voters of Saugus, we are reaching out to all 50 Town Meeting members, focusing on one precinct each week, in the weeks leading up to the start of Town Meeting, asking members about their expectations for the upcoming Town Meeting. This week we received responses from two of the five Town Meeting Members in Precinct 6 and from a Precinct 5 Town Meeting member whose comment was received after the deadline for last week’s column. Town Meeting members who don’t respond in a given week are still invited to submit a response, which will be included in the next edition. For next week’s newspaper, we will reach out to the five Town Meeting Members from Precinct 7. The 2025 Annual Town Meeting convenes four weeks from Monday. Question One: What do you consider the top priority for the town as you prepare for the opening of the 2025 Town Meeting session? Jeanie Bartolo: Maintaining our Stabilization Fund and our AA+ Bond Rating. On other issues across town I am hopeful that progress will be made on the third Fire Station. Also, continue with the work being done on the infrastructure as well as our playgrounds. Discussions on what becomes of the closed schools and the property on Main Street. William S. Brown: It’s a primary responsibility of Town Meeting to approve a budget that will maintain fiscal stability. The town manager, his staff, and all the contributors of this budget deserve our thanks for their efforts. I am concerned that maintaining fiscal stability may be a challenge due to volatility of cash from federal programs which may dry up as it flows through the state. The other primary responsibility of Town Meeting is the disposition of zoning articles, these I usually need to hear the debate to decide how to vote. Mark Panetta (Precinct 5): Maintaining our AA+/Stable THE SEAT OF SAUGUS TOWN GOVERNMENT: The 50-member Town Meeting is the legislative branch of Saugus Town Government and convenes on the first Monday in May each year for a series of meetings to approve zoning articles and resolutions and to pass the town’s municipal budget. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) rating from S&P Global, which is the highest in Saugus’ history. This favorable rating helps Saugus achieve more favorable borrowing rates which saves the taxpayers money. Continuing the rehabilitation of parks and playgrounds around Town. Continue to be a full-service community. Continue the positive steps taken in improving communication throughout the Town. Question Two: What do you consider the top priority for residents in your precinct (Precinct 6) as you prepare for the opening of the 2025 Town Meeting session? Jeanie Bartolo: The areas that I see need attention in Precinct 6 are: Traffic in Cliftondale Square is a nightmare. There is bumper to bumper traffic from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and there are drivers cutting through neighborhoods. Litter is a huge problem in Cliftondale as it is all over town. Enforcing NO PARKING during snowstorms, several cars were not moved on Jackson Street or Essex Street. Another issue is street cleaning. We need to know exactly when the street sweepers are coming and notify the residents when to move their cars, as it stands now we are paying for street sweepers to drive down the middle of the street. A serious issue is tree trimming and culverts not being cleaned out which causes flooding in homeowners yards. William S. Brown: What I understand the concerns of Precinct 6 residents are: a third fire station and the traffic that travels through our town. The third fire station has been studied to the extreme, it is time to make some decisions! The next concern is twofold, the first part is the speed that drivers travel throughout Saugus. Far too many busy streets are lacking TOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 7 50 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $11.00 Price includes Roller Skates 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required Private Parties Private Parties 4-8 p.m. $10.00 8:30-11 p.m. $11. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required 12-9 p.m. $10.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com ׉ 7cassandra://BJZWXOvvIdI-wiOQ9qnDZjW0FYM3FWmYkitJJ4A5yw06`g{g{ rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://IAFIF1DisBRSQfqutIPOZA68R4xnFciX5fATqHdYBNM\`'p׉ 7cassandra://lHFa7zWqDVRpOYnyNznVtuh6vJQEUSBfsksc72Q3imw`׉ 7cassandra://w4WeLH55yrnYJYwyRwROvtyGtkiqUxHvtK2OIM_BHSk:i`g{טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://fSCT4oREMAjSN3K6jiKrc6PvISd2Bg4aDygK0BmFJWI{7`'p׉ 7cassandra://zkDw6D7Y629mIgNYMdRt7ExiINgsLi4qzTS1J_YFpvoͶ`׉ 7cassandra://OlOqs3ngo-Qx9an7C1Cqf3fhVcdT_dmakj1TLCDSX-k6`g{ɑנg{΁Y9ׁHhttp://WWW.SABATINO-INS.COMׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 4, 2025 ~ The Old Sachem ~ A brief history of Saugus schools – Part 2 By Bill Stewart as t week we read about the Saugus schools that were built in the 1700s and 1800s. Now L we will look at some of the more modern elementary schools, those of the 1900s. The Felton School was opened in 1900 and named for Cornelius Felton, a not8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! www.810bargrille.com Everett Supplies Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof ng • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! ed college professor at Harvard University and a Saugus citizen. It was built on Central Street opposite School Street. I went to the Felton from the second grade through the sixth. It had a large playground area and the northeast corner where kids sometimes hid out. The Felton was closed in 1978; the building was demolished in 1982, and the Saugus Senior Center was built on the site. Right behind the site, I was born in 1934 in a midwife’s building. Saugus next built the Emerson School on Lincoln Avenue across the street from the Cogliano building. The Emerson School was opened in 1906 and my sons went there in the 1970s. It is now a condominium home. It was named for the Reverend Joseph Emerson, who founded the first Female Seminary in the nation in Saugus near the center on Main Street. Next the town built a new school in East Saugus in 1911 and named it the Ballard School. When it opened, Saugus received a letter from President William Howard Taft, and it was read to the public. He congratulated Saugus for building a new school. In 2003 it was closed as an elementary school, and in 2010 it was leased and reopened as the Early Childhood Center. It was closed again in 2017 and was transferred from the School Committee to the Town of Saugus in 2020. No decision has been made on its future or the reuse of the former school grounds. The Lynnhurst Elementary School was built in 1964 and shut down in 2021 as part of the school district’s reconfiguration plan. The school was and is at 443 Walnut St. and 10 Elm St. The students were moved to the Veterans School and the town took over the grounds and buildings. My grandchildren who lived on Fairmount Avenue attended the school as youngsters. The Oaklandvale School was built about the same time as the Lynnhurst and is still located on Main Street north of the J. Pace building and the VFW. It, too, was closed in 2021. The Douglas Waybright School was opened in the 1960s and also shut down in 2021. It is located at the end of Talbot Street. All three elementary schools had their students moved either to the Veterans Early Learning Center (prekindergarten to first grade) or the Belmonte STEAM Academy (secondto fifth-graders) These three former school buildings were turned over to the town in 2022. No decision has been made on their future or the “The Old Sachem,” Bill Stewart. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Joanie Allbee) reuse of the school grounds. The Sweetser School was located on Lincoln Avenue on the site of the former Lincoln School. It was opened as a Junior High School having eight school rooms and a large assembly hall. It was named after the Sweetser family, who lived in the neighborhood. Upon the opening of the new Saugus High School, students were moved to the Saugus Junior High School, and the building became an elementary school. The property eventually became senior housing. Next week we will follow the Junior and Senior High Schools. (Editor’s Note: Bill Stewart, who is better known to Saugus Advocate readers as “The Old Sachem,” writes a weekly column – sometimes about sports. He also opines on current or historical events or famous people.) Spring is Here! ׉ 7cassandra://w4WeLH55yrnYJYwyRwROvtyGtkiqUxHvtK2OIM_BHSk:i`g{׉ETHE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 4, 2025 Page 5 BRIDGE | FROM PAGE 2 2006 to 2017, the City of Lynn had no choice but to condemn the building and order that it be vacated. “SPS New England, Inc. remains committed to working with all parties involved to identify a solution and fi nishing the construction of the Belden-Bly Drawbridge. “Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 Update …Local data for previous coastal fl ooding occurrences are not collected by the City of Lynn. The best available local data is for Essex County through the National Climatic Data Center. As noted in the SHMCAP, Eastern Essex County, which includes the City of Lynn, reported 27 coastal fl ooding events between 2006 and 2017. Essex County also experienced the most FEMA fl ood disaster declarations in the state between 1954 and 2017; total property damage assessed at approximately $7 million.” Meanwhile, in an interview this week, Flynn warned that “an environmental disaster” caused by the marina building blowing out and falling into the Saugus River could lead to an indefi nite shutdown that would impact the “the general public, including Lynn and Saugus taxpayers, abutters and commuters.” “Since everyone involved denies responsibility and buries their heads in the sand, we are headed to court with a strong request for an injunction to stop the project,” Flynn told The Saugus Advocate. “We have served the interested parties. It will be fi led with Essex County Superior Court in the next few days,” he said. “Never a problem until this project” As part of the bridge replacement project connecting Saugus and Lynn, MassDOT took a 19,000-square-foot, fi ve-year easement in 2018 and then renewed the easement in 2023 for another four years. “For 6+ years now, there has been heavy construction with massive equipment right up against our building,” Flynn said. “MassDOT has the right to do this until at least 2027, which will be nine years!!” “MassDOT’s contractor is SPS New England. Look at the equipment they have been pounding away with. Our primary building has housed a marina for over 30 years,” the attorney said. “It was built about 70 years ago. Never a problem until this project, and now the building is unstable and has been deemed by the City of Lynn to be uninhabitable. SPS and MassDOT say their project is a non-issue and has nothing to do with our land/building structural problems, not even a 1% factor,” he said. “They say the normal changSABATINO/MASTROCOLA INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Sabatino Insurance is proud to welcome the loyal customers of ALWAYS READY TO SERVE YOU: Our Staff are, Emma Davidson, Jeimy Sanchez, Josephine Leone, Marie D’Amore, Rocco Longo, Z’andre Lopez, Anthony DiPierro, Darius Goudreau, Laurette Murphy, Danielle Goudreau and Tina Davidson. PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM ing tide did this and has nothing to do with the vibrations, soil removal and dredging by SPS. Totally absurd! My clients had to recently vacate the marina building and may be put out of business,” he said. “Even the SPS project manager acknowledged that Western Avenue at the bridge site flooded two weeks ago and the water was directed under the foundation of the Marina Building,” he said. “We have the 30 year Marina tenant and photos from the 1990s showing the building and the land after almost 50 years with no tidal erosion. DOT/SPS arrive and start working and then the 10’ to 12’ of erosion commenced and the building deBRIDGE | SEE PAGE 7 Toys! $ 599. 95 Collectibles! $ 1,195. 95 ׉ 7cassandra://OlOqs3ngo-Qx9an7C1Cqf3fhVcdT_dmakj1TLCDSX-k6`g{g{ rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://hmpzokoCkvA7YYWDlFRJEnj7lSimRZAD8hp5gribgcQ`'p׉ 7cassandra://Y-etC59dYD7VTau6P6SrlNWydermir-NS6U4JbopEokɓ`׉ 7cassandra://XhriCr6Xh9JwdVt1OLs9YdDC4hgweLk16GMAfe6XC7km9ׁHhttp://TCSaugus.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 4, 2025 A Step Back in Picasso’s Time Theatre Company of Saugus fundraiser captures the spirit of famous painter – the subject of upcoming play By Joanie Allbee T uesday evening was Picasso Painting Night at the American Legion Hall. It was a unique fundraiser where supporters of the Theatre Company of Saugus (TCS) came out to enjoy a fun evening of painting in Picasso’s cubist style. Cubist style painting is done with fragmented faces, multiple perspectives and geometric shapes. Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, who died at age 91 in 1973, is thought of as one of the inventors of cubism style painting. In many books, Pablo is quoted as saying “The World Today doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?” And that about sums up the style of a Picasso painting. Caroline DeBrota was the art teacher who held the painting class Tuesday (April 1) night at American Legion Post 210 on Taylor Street. Caroline is from Medford and is an art instructor at Hatch Makerspace in Watertown. She is also an actress and has been performing for 18plus years. She will be playing Charles Dabernow Schmendiman in TCS’s upcoming play, “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” by Steve Martin. Sara Dion, who will be acting the part of Sagot the Art Critic/Art Dealer in the play, put on a table performance during the entire evening. Page and Wendy Millar-Page won the Fundraiser basket raffle. As Picasso said “ Every Child is an Artist,” he would probably agree that every TCS supporter who showed up at Picasso night is an artist. (Tickets for the “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” performance can be purchased for April 25, 26, 27 and May 2, 3, 4 at the Theatre Company of Saugus website: TCSaugus.org Lawn and Yard CareUSA It’s Time For SPRING CLEANOUTS Cutting, Weeding, Mulching, Trimming, Brushes, Shrubs & More! 781-521-9927 ESTATE SALE Sunday, April 6 1:00 - 6:00 PM 3 Hadley Ct., Everett Furniture, TV’s, Wall Hangers, Washer & Dryer and so much more! TEACHING PICASSO STYLE: Caroline DeBrota instructed Theatre Company of Saugus supporters how to paint Picasso’s cubist style at Tuesday’s fundraiser. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) TOWN MEETING | FROM PAGE 7 Meeting? Could you please elaborate? Summarize your article and what you hope to accomplish. Jeanie Bartolo: I am not currently working independently or in collaboration with other Town Meeting Members on any Articles. William S. Brown: During my tenure I have had the good fortune to work with several town meeting members from diff erent precincts. I value their advice, their opinions, and their friendship. TAKING HOME THE PRIZE: Ian Page and Wendy Millar-Page won the Theatre Company of Saugus Raffl e Basket. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) Mark Panetta (Precinct 5): Not at this time. Question Four: Please feel free to share any other views about the upcoming Town Meeting. Jeanie Bartolo: It is always exciting to start Town Meeting, getting to see your fellow Town Meeting Members you usually don’t run into around town. So many things can change as Town Meeting progresses. You can think an article will sail through and then fi nd a lot of discussion and in the end an interesting twist! I love seeing what we will accomplish. William S. Brown: To me Town FANS OF PICASSO: Theatre Company of Saugus fundraiser Picasso painters displayed their artwork at the end of the night. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) FRIENDS OF SAUGUS THEATRE: With Maggie Anderson’s orange face and Amy Scarborough’s green face, they proudly displayed their Picasso-style works of art they made at the Theatre Company of Saugus fundraiser. (Courtesy photo of Joanie Allbee) Meeting heralds the end of a cold, dark winter, and the coming of spring. I enjoy looking over a budget, reading zoning articles, and all the preparations for the annual town meeting. Mark Panetta (Precinct 5): I am looking forward to the debate on important articles that will impact our community. I am thankful for the detailed review of our Finance Committee and how the Town Manager always makes himself available to answer important questions regarding articles. I appreciate the commitment and dedication from all involved in our Town government. Call LAWNS Cut From $25 ׉ 7cassandra://OlZsI3F1eEMr-zc3PusWE7x--cnwMjj68NBG14talKQ